THE Garran Surge Centre will be dismantled after it is permanently closed on February 28, with the ACT government stepping down its COVID-19 management declaration.

Chief health officer Dr Kerryn Coleman says the only remaining public health direction, requiring people who test positive using a rapid antigen test (RAT) to report the result to ACT Health, is no longer justified, but is still strongly encouraged.

More than 240,000 PCR tests were conducted at the Surge Centre throughout the pandemic, along with vaccinations and free RATs.

The ACT government says decommissioning works will begin shortly, including the dismantling of the Surge Centre and remediation of Garran Oval.

RATs can still be collected free from ACT Libraries – excluding the Heritage Library – and Access Canberra service centres, following a transaction.

But, from March 1, PCR testing will only be available with a referral.